Nangen Zengzhangsu (may also be known as Nangen or Nangeng), Sanbianwan, Jiu Bian Wang, Tian Huang Gu Shen Dan, Zui Xian Dan Gong Shi Zi, and Power Up.

Foreign Product Alert
2008-96
June 24, 2008
For immediate release

Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the products specified below due to concerns about possible side-effects. More info

Date of alert: June 24, 2008
Source of Alert: Hong Kong Department of Health
Product Name: Nangen Zengzhangsu (may also be known as Nangen or Nangeng), Sanbianwan, Jiu Bian Wang, Tian Huang Gu Shen Dan, Zui Xian Dan Gong Shi Zi, and Power Up.
Manufacturer / Place of Origin: Nangen Zengzhangsu is manufactured by Hebei Luquan Shengwugongcheng Youxianggonsi. The manufacturers of the remaining products on the list above are unknown.

Product Description
The products are all herbal/proprietary Chinese medicine products promoted for treatment of erectile or sexual dysfunction.

Nangen Zengzhangsu

Power Up

Reason for Warning
The Hong Kong Department of Health issued several press releases from February through April 2008 advising consumers against the use of these products because they were found to contain sildenafil and/or glibenclamide.

Sildenafil is a prescription medication indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Glibenclamide is a prescription medication used in the treatment of diabetes. Both medications should only be used under the supervision of a health care professional.

Possible Side-Effects
Unsupervised use of sildenafil by patients with pre-existing heart disease can result in serious cardiovascular side-effects such as sudden cardiac death, heart attack, chest pain, abnormal heartbeat, hypertension or hypotension, and stroke. Additionally, use of sildenafil may be associated with other side-effects including vision loss, seizure, prolonged erection, headache, flushing, nasal congestion, and abdominal pain. Sildenafil should not be used by individuals taking any type of nitrate drug (e.g., nitroglycerine) due to the risk of developing potentially life-threatening low blood pressure.

Glibenclamide (also known as glyburide) is authorized for the management of high blood sugar in certain diabetic patients. Severe low blood sugar is a side-effect that can present as flushing, paleness, chills, trembling, headache, dizziness and confusion. Other side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and abdominal pain may occur. Glibenclamide is not recommended for patients with unstable diabetes and/or those on insulin, or patients with severe liver, thyroid or kidney problems.

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Media Inquiries:
Health Canada
(613) 957-2983

For more details on these Foreign Product Alerts, please visit the Health Canada Web site.

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These products are not authorized for sale in Canada and have not been found in the Canadian marketplace, but it is possible they may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet.

Canadians who have this product are advised not to use it, and should consult with a health care professional if they have concerns about their health related to the use of this product.

Drugs and natural health products that are authorized for sale in Canada will have either an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Natural Product Number (NPN) or a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DIN-HM) on the label. These numbers indicate that the products have been assessed by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness and quality.

Health Canada advises Canadians to contact the Health Products and Food Branch Inspectorate at 1-800-267-9675 if they find any of the products listed above in the Canadian marketplace.

For more information about the information contained in this advisory, please contact Health Canada's public inquiries line at (613) 957-2991 or toll-free at 1-866-225-0709.

As of the date of this posting, no adverse reactions suspected to be associated with the use of this product have been reported in Canada.